A local New Jersey metal band has gone viral after a post seeking replacement members, following the dismissal of two bandmates for what they described as 'unforeseen and disgusting reasons,' unexpectedly reached millions of users on Instagram. Reign, which typically communicates with a few thousand followers, saw their announcement explode, garnering over two million views worldwide.
The Original Announcement
The initial statement, posted on behalf of remaining members—guitarists CJ and Aiden, and drummer Cork—read: 'Due to unforeseen and disgusting reasons, Ryan and Aubrey are no longer in Reign. Their actions in zero way are a reflection of the morals of the band and everyone who is involved with the band.' It continued, 'The things going on behind the scenes that were brought to the light was simply unacceptable and THAT is the honest and genuine truth. Now that we look to the future we are looking for a new vocalist and bassist because this is 100% not the end of this band and we plan to move the same way as before.'
Details Emerge
In a follow-up comment, Reign provided context: 'Aubrey cheated on our drummer (Cork) with Ryan months ago and kept the relationship a secret for months. As soon as we found out we decided it was best to kick out both members because at the time (Tuesday) they were still together and were persistent on being a thing. We kicked them because these are supposed to be people that we can trust and the fact they did that to our drummer was enough for us to do what we did (that’s not the only reason).' The comment also alluded to 'other horrific things that Ryan has done to other women,' leading the band to sever all ties with him.
Clarifying Aubrey's Role
Reign later clarified: 'The reason Aubrey is not in the band is because of how the relationship with her and Cork (our drummer) ended (which we didn’t know how until Tuesday). We have been talking to her (and she fully understands why she’s not in the band) because of course we still care about her and want the best for her.' They added that Aubrey was 'no longer associated with Ryan after seeing all of the awful things about him that have come to the light.'
Viral Reaction
The post captivated new audiences. One commenter, Alex Mulder, wrote, 'This is a wild first post to see from a band I’ve never heard of,' earning over 37,000 likes. Another user, @belladonnapaniic, quipped, 'Instagram just be dropping me off anywhere,' attracting 33,000 likes. Alicia added, 'Well damn now I gotta stick around to see the new band even tho I never knew the old one.' Allbrook Station, a fellow band, declared their support: 'We have always stood with and supported @bandreignofficial ever since the very first post of theirs that we came across. Which is this one.'
Band's Response to Virality
Reign later shared a screenshot showing the post had reached 1.4 million accounts, resulting in 191,527 profile visits and 3,626 new followers. They admitted, 'To everyone new here that’s never heard of us. We seriously have no f**king clue why this is blowing up the way it is.' Content creator Lucie Woos replied, 'A whole lotta drama I never knew I needed, my algorithm is absolutely wild. I’m glad something good came out of this for your band and more people know you exist.'
Looking Ahead
Formed in 2022, Reign is determined to continue. They have a gig scheduled at Chaos & Carnage at Reverb in Reading, Pennsylvania, and are actively seeking a new vocalist and bassist. 'Unfortunately we don’t have a bassist and vocalist anymore (CHAOS IS STILL HAPPENING DON’T WORRY) so please hit us up and share this all over,' they posted. The band's dramatic turn of events has not only expanded their audience but also drawn comparisons to classic rock band feuds, such as those of Fleetwood Mac.
